Services

Former Tiger ready to roar for Warriors

RICHARD de Carpentier was always confident his Warriors trial would work — and now he will be going hammer and tongs to nail down a regular place in the side.

The former Leicester Tigers number eight was invited to train with Worcester at the beginning of October and has impressed the Sixways coaching staff to such a degree he has been handed a contract until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old ex-England Students captain, who has also played sevens at international level, will start tomorrow’s LV= Cup opener against the Scarlets at Sixways and is eager to show Warriors were right to give him a deal.

“I’m very happy to sort my future out and sign the deal at Warriors,” de Carpentier said. “It was a tough month and it was all about me getting my head down and working hard, so I’m happy to get the reward at the end.

“I’ve had one game in the Aviva ‘A’ League to show what I could do in match action, most of it has been on the training field, showing the right attitude and trying to let the coaches know what I am capable of.

“I guess there is an added pressure in that with not having any first team exposure, but I have enjoyed knowing I had that month to do it and really putting everything I have into sessions.

“I’ve felt like I have fitted in quickly and the boys have been great in showing me around and settling me in. I’ve had a couple of late tackles from Percy (James Percival), but I guess that is part of the induction process here!”

Meanwhile, de Carpentier says he has relished working with the Warriors coaching team, particularly forwards chief Nigel Redman.

He continued: “I’ve really enjoyed working with Nigel, he has been really good with me and helped me out with the line-outs and let me run a few defence sessions.

“I’d never met Nigel before but he has backed me and is a really good coach. Everyone rates him highly and we know he will get the pack of forwards here really firing.”

De Carpentier added: “My first game at Sixways for the first team will be special.

“I’ve settled into the area and have a flat with the missus. She is already spending all the money I don’t have, but seriously it’s great that we can put roots down here now and I can look to be a success at Warriors.

“Running out tomorrow will be something that stays with me. A win over the Scarlets would be ideal and I will be doing everything I can to give a good impression of myself to all the fans.”

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here